WDB TRUST
Pan-African Advocacy Pillar
The Pan-African Advocacy pillar houses the African
Women In Dialogue (AfWID) programme and the
Zanele Mbeki Fellowship (ZMF) programme. AfWID
is an inclusive platform of dialogue committed to
Strengthening the continental African women’s
movement towards a new Value-based eco-system
and the ZMF strives to cultivate A new generation of
feminist leadership.
Zanele Mbeki Fellowship
The Zanele Mbeki Fellowship (ZMF) is a leadership programme for young African women, fostering feminist
leaders to create a better world. It gathers 25 emerging leaders to explore feminism’s power, providing them
with the knowledge, skills, and confidence to effect positive change. The fellowship champions the feminist
movement’s revival and challenges patriarchal systems across Africa and globally.
Fellowship aim
- Interrogate the centrality of the role of the full emancipation of women, within the context of working for social and economic structural changes which will grant substantive equality and social safety for all marginalised people including the poor, disabled, LGBTQI+ and other disregarded groups.
- Define the concept of African feminism, as distinct yet complimentary to the traditional understanding of feminism and the global women’s movement.
- Strengthen the activism of the fellows by invigorating them with the determination to challenge the status quo, and further instilling in them a sense of personal responsibility for the wellbeing of the continent.
Knowledge and Critical Thinking
Core to each of the four pillars is the pillar of knowledge. The purpose of the Fellowship is to impart knowledge by exposing Fellows to rich content and activities that will enhance their activism and critical thinking.
- Self: Activities under this pillar focus on the holistic development of each Fellow, with emphasis on intellectual, psychological, physical, and spiritual stimulation and wellbeing.
- Feminist & Development Theory: Activities under this pillar focus on providing Fellows with a comprehensive grounding in both feminist and development theory, as well as exposing them to continental and global thinking on this subject. The focus is on building consciousness and developing African solutions, within the broader context of the global world.
- Leadership: Activities under this pillar focus on providing Fellows with practical resources and knowledge on how to enhance their individual skills and styles to better understand and execute their responsibilities of leadership.
- Community: Activities under this pillar focus on exposing Fellows to the continental and global feminist movement by way of immersive activities which will bring classroom discussions to life.
Fellowship aim
- Interrogate the centrality of the role of the full emancipation of women, within the context of working for social and economic structural changes which will grant substantive equality and social safety for all marginalised people including the poor, disabled, LGBTQI+ and other disregarded groups.
- Define the concept of African feminism, as distinct yet complimentary to the traditional understanding of feminism and the global women’s movement.
- Strengthen the activism of the fellows by invigorating them with the determination to challenge the status quo, and further instilling in them a sense of personal responsibility for the wellbeing of the continent.
Knowledge and Critical Thinking
Core to each of the four pillars is the pillar of knowledge. The purpose of the Fellowship is to impart knowledge by exposing Fellows to rich content and activities that will enhance their activism and critical thinking.
- Self: Activities under this pillar focus on the holistic development of each Fellow, with emphasis on intellectual, psychological, physical, and spiritual stimulation and wellbeing.
- Feminist & Development Theory: Activities under this pillar focus on providing Fellows with a comprehensive grounding in both feminist and development theory, as well as exposing them to continental and global thinking on this subject. The focus is on building consciousness and developing African solutions, within the broader context of the global world.
- Leadership: Activities under this pillar focus on providing Fellows with practical resources and knowledge on how to enhance their individual skills and styles to better understand and execute their responsibilities of leadership.
- Community: Activities under this pillar focus on exposing Fellows to the continental and global feminist movement by way of immersive activities which will bring classroom discussions to life.
Africa Women in Dialogue (AfWID):
AfWID is an inclusive dialogue platform that brings together 1,000 African
women from diverse backgrounds to discuss issues of continental importance
biennially. Two dialogues have been held so far: the inaugural 2018 event with
1,000 participants from the SADC region, and the 2019 gathering, which saw
1,000 women from all 55 African countries. Guided by a feminist ethos of
inclusion, AfWID prioritises grassroots and marginalised women. The dialogues
have provided many first-time experiences, from practical steps like obtaining
passports and travelling abroad, to transformative ones like finding their voice
and discussing critical issues for development and change.
AfWID objectives:
Contribute towards attaining a united
voice of African women on continental
issues
Vitalise, inspire and broaden the vision
of African women under a common
development agenda.
Review continental strategies and
programmes which are aimed at
impacting African women.
Identify current and evolving systemic barriers, including practices and norms, which work against the implementation of the women’s and development agenda.
Facilitate the review of undergirding systems, structures and practices, which hinder the advancement of the African women. This includes the review of policies, structures and programmes on a national and continental level.
Influence community, national and continental structures (public, private, civil society) and implementation strategies aimed at empowering African women.
Strengthen national, regional and continental networks of women organisations.
AfWID Reports
The launching theme of AfWID 2018 was ‘Strengthening...
To herald an age when nobody is left behind, as AfWID,...
African Women in Dialogue (AWID) is inspired by our...
On 27-31 January 2025, over 1,200 African women gathered...
Articles AfWID 2018
Videos of the AfWID 2019 week
AfWID FAQ’s
Attendance is by invite and registration. Participants for the AfWID platform are sourced by regional coordinators each year according to the AfWID inclusivity list which is designed to ensure a diverse representation of all women.
The AfWID secretariat bears the costs of transport, accommodation and meals for all invited participants. There is no attendance fee.
The dialogue takes place over a five-day period.
The AfWID team is open to contributions, ideas and suggestions. Email info@wdbtrust.org.za
with your proposal.
Each AfWID week has a proudly African market place where delegates get to showcase and sell products from their countries. Participants are allocated spaces and allowed to sell. In the event you wish to sell/ display your uniquely African wares, email info@wdbtrust.org.za with your request for consideration.
AfWID operates on donor funds and does not give out cash in kind.
ZM Fellowship FAQs
The first cohort of Fellows graduated in 2019 and the second in 2022. Announcements will be made when its time for the next cohort.
Participation in the Zanele Mbeki Fellowship is by invitation only. Individuals must be recommended by organisations, leaders or individuals linked to community organisations and cannot apply directly to the programme.
One has to be a young professional between 25-35 years of age who is also an active member of their community, leading or participating in various community initiatives.